BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, February 18, 2018 (PLP PR Media Inc.) -- Governor General His Excellency Sir Tapley Seaton, GCMG, CVO, QC, JP, hosted a well-attended luncheon in honour of senior citizens on the grounds of Government House as the country ushered in the inaugural National Volunteer Day on Saturday February 17.
“I am very happy to be here today to host this event, a luncheon for our senior citizens, because from the shoulders of the senior citizens this nation has been built,” said the Governor General as he sat at a strategic corner welcoming persons who ended up sitting under two huge tents. “We need to benefit from their experiences, from their advice, and all the wise counsel that they could give.”
The Governor General praised the role that was being played by government ministers led by the Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris who were serving the senior citizens and the youth, made up of members of the newly launched Volunteer Corps, and expressed that the occasion was certainly a heart-warming one.
Explaining that the National Volunteer Day will be an annual event, His Excellency the Governor General noted that country treasures its senior citizens as that is not the only occasion the seniors are celebrated, reminding that “at the end of May we have a Centenarian Day where we celebrate all the centenarians, so we certainly treasure our senior citizens.”
The first National Centenarian Day was observed on May 31, 2016 after having been declared by the Team Unity Administration to honour all citizens who have attained the age of 100 years and was hosted by the Governor General His Excellency Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton.
The Governor General concluded by saying: “It is my pleasure to host the senior citizens on this National Volunteer Day.”
Meanwhile a spokesperson for the 16 members of the Volunteer Corps who were present at Government House to assist the seniors, Mr Tarique Hercules, said that the group was launched on Friday February 16, and membership is open to young people from ages 16 to 35. They have come together to do volunteer work with the different communities in the Federation.
Students of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and the Advanced Vocational Education Centre (AVEC) who are enrolled in the Department of Education’s Supporting Advancement of Further Education (SAFE) programme are automatically members of this corps of volunteers.
“Today was part of our volunteer work, where we assisted with Governor General’s luncheon for the elderly,” said Mr Hercules. “Our activities ranged from greeting the old people coming to this event and having to share food as well as socialising with them making sure they felt comfortable while they are here.”
He noted that members feel that the launch of the Volunteer Corps is a great initiative by the government which has been helping them. In his conclusion, Mr Hercules said: “We do this as a part of our stipulations for the SAFE programme and we can say that we did have much fun today. It was really exciting - it was amazing.”
Senior citizens and other guests at the Government House were entertained by the Huggins Masquerades of Irish Town, and the Jingle Bells String Band.
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